Sutera plant named &#39;DCOPDBINDG&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  cultivar named ‘DCOPDBINDG’ is disclosed, characterized by early and abundant large violet-blue double flowers, medium plant vigor and a mounded and well branched growth habit. The new variety is a  Sutera , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Sutera cordata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DCOPDBINDG’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Sutera varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during May of 2010.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Sutera ‘cv. 10-1725’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in March of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2010 open pollination, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in March of 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 20 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DCOPDBINDG’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DCOPDBINDG’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DCOPDBINDG’ as a new and distinct Sutera cultivar:

-   1. Mounded growth habit. -   2. Large Violet-Blue double flowers. -   3. Well branched plants -   4. Early abundant flowering. -   5. Medium vigor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPDBINDG’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Sutera ‘cv. 10-1725’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPDBINDG’ differ in the following;

-   1. Plant habit is mounded. The parent habit is semi-trailing. -   2. Large, Violet-Blue double flowers. The parent has medium sized,     lavender, semi-double flowers. -   3. More abundant flowering than the parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPDBINDG’ are comparable to the commercial variety Sutera ‘DANDCOP41’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,146. The two Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DCOPDBINDG’ differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety ‘DCOPDBINDG’ has a less compact plant habit than     this comparator. -   2. Comparison variety has large, white flowers whereas the new     variety ‘DCOPDBINDG’ has large, violet-blue flowers. -   3. Comparison variety produces more branches per plant. -   4. Comparison variety plant is shorter than the new variety. -   5. Comparison variety has strong vigor whereas the new variety has     medium vigor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOPDBINDG’ can also be comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Sutera ‘DANCOP48. The two Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DCOPDBINDG’ differs in the following:

-   1. Comparison variety has a semi-trailing, elongated growth habit     whereas the candidate variety has a mounded growth habit. -   2. Comparison variety has extra-large, white flowers whereas the new     variety ‘DCOPDBINDG’ has large, violet-blue flowers. -   3 The new variety ‘DCOPDBINDG’ variety produces less branches per     plant than the comparison variety. -   4. Comparison variety flowers later than the new variety     ‘DCOPDBINDG. -   5. Comparison variety has strong vigor whereas the new variety     ‘DCOPDBINDG’ has medium vigor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DCOPDBINDG’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months old from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DCOPDBINDG’ plants grown in the Winter to Spring in moderate climate in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 16° C. during the night. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘DCOPDBINDG’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Cutting.         -   Time to initiate roots.—7-10 days at approximately 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 3 months from rooted             cutting.         -   Container size of the plant described.—13 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing and vigorous.         -   Height.—Approximately 24 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 55 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Quantity: About             8 Form: Cylindrical Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: RHS             Yellow-Green 144 A Texture: Velvety Strength: Flexible, not             easily broken.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite, petiolate Quantity:             Approximately 50 per branch. Average Length: 2.5 cm. Average             Width: 1.8 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate Apex: Obtuse Base:             Acuminate Margin: Serrate Texture of top surface: Velvety             Texture of bottom surface: Velvety Pubescence: Slightly             pubescent Aspect: About 90° to the branch Color: Young             foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 B Young foliage under             side: RHS Green 137 C Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green             137 A Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137 B Venation:             Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS Green 137 A             Venation color under side: RHS Green 137 C Petiole: Length:             About 0.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Green 137 A             Texture: Slightly velvety. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round under mild             Mediterranean conditions.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—About 45.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, solitary,             salverform double flowers.         -   Rate of flower opening.—3 to 5 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About 7 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Bud.—Shape: Spatulate Length: About 0.7 cm Diameter: About             0.4 cm Color: RHS Violet-Blue 92 A.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.0 cm. Length: About 1.3 cm.             Corolla tube diameter: About 0.3 cm.         -   Corolla/petals.—Arrangement: Symmetric Lobe Length: About             0.8 cm. Lobe Width: About 0.7 cm. Quantity: 5 large, fully             expanded, with an additional 5 curled in the center of the             flower Texture: Velvety Lobe Apex: Rounded Lobe shape:             Rounded Margin: Entire Aspect: About 90° to the tube.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Violet N 87 B Lower             surface: RHS Violet N 87 C Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS             Violet N 87 B Lower surface: RHS Violet N 87 C Visible             (outside) Corolla tube color: RHS Yellow 13 A Inside is not             visible due to the extra petals of the double flower).         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear Length:             About 0.4 cm Width: bout 0.1 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire Texture: Slightly velvety Color: Upper             Surface: RHS Green 137 B Lower Surface: RHS Green 137 C.         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137 C             Orientation: Slanted upward and outward Pubescence: Slightly             pubescent.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4 Filament length: Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Cylindrical Length: Approximately 0.1 cm.             Width: Less than 0.1 cm Color: RHS Yellow 7 A Pollen: Color:             RHS Yellow 7 C Quantity: Sparse.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: About 1.1 cm. Style: Length: About             1 cm. Color: RHS Green-Yellow 1 C Stigma: Shape: Undulate             Color: RHS Green-Yellow 1 A Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green             143 C. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 20 elliptic, small (1 mm long) Brown             seeds per one elliptic Brown capsule. Colors not accurately             measured with RHS chart.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Sutera have             been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures between 5 to 40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named ‘DCOPDBINDG’ as herein illustrated and described. 